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Mite elimination ‐ clinical effect on eczema
Author(s) -
Friedmann P. S.,
Tan B. B.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.363
H-Index - 173
eISSN - 1398-9995
pISSN - 0105-4538
DOI - 10.1111/j.1398-9995.1998.tb05007.x
Subject(s) - medicine , placebo , allergen , house dust mite , mite , dust mites , pyroglyphidae , aeroallergen , atopic dermatitis , allergy , dermatology , immunology , biology , ecology , alternative medicine , pathology
Allergic reactivity to house‐dust mites (HDM) can be detected in patients with atopic eczema by prick and patch test challenge. To determine the clinical relevance of this reactivity, we performed a placebo‐controlled, double‐blind trial of anti‐HDM measures. Active treatment comprised Gortex bags for all the bedding elements, a high‐powered vacuum cleaner, and a spray containing benzyl alcohol and tannic acid to kill mites and denature allergens. Placebo treatment was light cotton bags, a cheap vacuum cleaner, and water spray. Forty‐eight patients (28 active group) completed the trial, which lasted 6 months. Dust was sampled from the mattress surface and bedroom and living‐room carpets before and at monthly intervals after institution of the measures. Dust was weighed and Der p 1 determined by ELISA (ALK). Patients were assessed for area and severity of eczema by a blinded observer. There was a highly significant reduction in bed surface dust ‐ most beds yielded insufficient dust to extract and assay. Carpet Der p 1 levels were reduced to similar minimal levels by both active and placebo treatments (about 250 ng/m 2 ). There were highly significant benefits on the eczema scores, the active treatment being greatly superior to placebo ( P < 0.0006; analysis of covariance). In conclusion, Gortex bed bags were highly effective at containing dust within the bed. This was associated with clinical improvement in most patients with atopic eczema ‐ the biggest improvements were seen in the most severely affected subjects. (The results of this study have been published [ Lancet 1996; 347 :15–18].)